Chapter 12: Spectating - Sprinters S!

Summer.
After finishing the training camp and returning to the academy, I settled back into my usual routine—intense training.

Sakura Bakushin O, King Halo, and Admire Vega. I studied all three, each with their own distinct running styles, hoping to refine my own.

"Yeah, that’s not a bad time at all. Even your splits outside the final sprint have really improved."

"Probably thanks to your base stamina increasing, huh? All that beach training must’ve built up your endurance too."

"You could handle mid-distance in practice now, but in an actual race, it’d still be tough. Lux’s problem with middle and long distances isn’t stamina-related anyway."

Right. Exactly. The reason I’m weak at long distances isn’t because I run out of stamina.

It’s because of one thing—concentration.

I hate running in packs. I can’t handle serious, full-power opponents. Just being surrounded by them drains my mental energy.

"I’ve gotten a little more used to facing strong opponents, but…"

"Your pack-phobia isn’t going anywhere, huh."

And that’s why my limit is the mile. I could run while holding back mentally, but doing that means I’d never win a G1—no matter how lucky I got.

That’s why my trainer always says I can “place but not win” in middle-distance races.

"Man, nothing ever goes the way I want, huh."

"Still, it’s not unusual for a girl to specialize in miles and sprints. If anything, being able to handle both short and mid-distance races is rarer."

"Yeah, I guess you’re right."

You sometimes see girls who can cover everything from mile to long-distance, but those who can jump from sprint to mid-distance? Much rarer. Sprinting is just too specialized a field.

"So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?"

"I’m going to check out the race. No way I’m missing it when Comp’s running."

At the end of September—the Sprinters Stakes. That’s where my roommate, Bridge Comp, was set to race.

Bridge Comp’s first G1. I had to see it with my own eyes.

"Got it. Then I’ll come along too."

"Huh? You’re coming, Trainer? You don’t have to force yourself, you know."

"Lux, the girls racing tomorrow might become your rivals someday. You really think I’d skip watching them?"

"Ah, fair point. Alright then, I’m counting on you, Trainer."

The next day, we arrived at Nakayama Racecourse. The place was absolutely packed—if we weren’t careful, we could easily get separated.

I reached out and grabbed my trainer’s hand, giving it a quick squeeze.

"Lux."

"What? We can’t get separated, right?"

"…Haah…"

He sighed and gently pulled me along toward the front row of the stands.

It was still early, but we managed to snag a perfect spot. Nice!

"Now, where’d I put the entry list for the Sprinters Stakes…"

"Here you go—the race sheet."

"Thanks, Trainer. Let’s see… top favorite’s Taiki Shuttle, huh."

The race sheet was covered in the trainer’s handwritten notes—details about each girl’s running style, popularity, previous results, and past wins. It was practically a textbook.

That said, the two we’d be watching most closely were my roommate Bridge Comp and the “Strongest Miler,” Taiki Shuttle.

"I’ve seen Taiki Shuttle race before—she’s incredible. Still, her specialty is mile races…"

"The question is how well she can keep up in a sprint."

Nakayama’s 1200-meter turf course favors the inner lanes and tends to get rough. Another key feature—it’s downhill for most of the race. Because of that, it often turns into a pure, high-speed battle.

"Oh, there’s Comp!"

"She looks sharp—seems to be in great condition too."

"And Taiki Shuttle… hmm. She doesn’t look bad either, but her rhythm’s hard to read."

Still, luck plays a big part in racing. Until they cross the finish line, no one knows how things will turn out.

The parade trot began, each girl loosening up at her own pace.

"Taiki Shuttle sure runs boldly. But… her stride looks a bit off-balance to me."

"Yeah, she’s something else. No way I could ever pull off that kind of run."

That’s just the kind of girl Taiki Shuttle is—bold, powerful. She’s tall, and for a short-distance or mile runner, she’s got an impressive amount of stamina too.

Her signature style is to stay just behind the leaders until the midpoint, then surge ahead right before the final corner. If I remember right, she’s classified as a “front-runner” in the app—that lines up perfectly.

"Comp’s rhythm looks solid too. Think she’s got a shot?"

"Yeah, she’s in great form. She could do really well today. The only concern is whether she can hold her stamina if the pace gets too fast."

Bridge Comp, on the other hand, is small—but that doesn’t mean she lacks endurance. For a sprinter, she’s got plenty of staying power.

Her style is “escape”—a lead-runner type. The question is whether she can stay ahead all the way to the end against Taiki Shuttle’s late surge. That’ll be the key point of this race.

"Under the clear blue sky, the Sprinters Stakes is finally about to begin! Sixteen horse girls enter the gates, ready to determine the true queen of short distances!"

"Unfortunately, the skies are overcast, but the track is still rated Good. That said, thanks to this morning’s rain, there are still a few muddy patches here and there."

"It’s starting, huh…"

A triumphant fanfare blared through the air as all the girls began walking toward the gates in unison.

Comp drew Gate 3 in Lane 2—a huge advantage on Nakayama’s inner-favored 1200-meter track. Taiki Shuttle, on the other hand, was in Lane 11, Gate 6. We’d see how that gap played out.

"So, which runner should we keep an eye on today?"

"Well, the top favorite, Taiki Shuttle, remains undefeated in mile races—so expectations are high. Her last victory was the NHK Mile Cup, where she took first place."

"But… hmm, looks like she’s taking her time getting into the gate."

As expected, Taiki Shuttle was rated extremely high. Earning that kind of reputation outside her usual distance really showed how extraordinary she was. Still undefeated in miles? That’s monstrous. Thankfully, she’s had a few losses in shorter sprints.

And her slow gate entry wasn’t surprising either. That’s just her personality—she doesn’t like tight spaces.

"My personal pick today is Bridge Comp. Unlike Taiki Shuttle, sprinting is her true battlefield."

"She’s lost to Taiki Shuttle in a mile race before, so maybe this’ll be her shot at revenge?"

Everyone was in the gate now, and the crowd fell silent.

Even from here, I could feel the energy—a tangible wave of spirit and fighting intent radiating from the gates. It made my whole body shiver.

"The gates have opened! Leading the charge is Number 3, Bridge Comp!"

With a loud clang, the gates burst open, and the horse girls sprang forward all at once.

"Oh! Number 5, Harp Rhythm, seems to have stumbled out of the gate! Number 2, Ferment Win, is pushing hard to stay with the front group!"
"It’s only 1200 meters—a short race. We can expect a blistering pace right from the start."

Nakayama’s straight sections are short—not just the final stretch, but all of them. The 1200-meter turf course begins at the tail end of a corner. Right after the start is the backstretch—only about 200 meters long. From there to the home stretch, it’s almost entirely turns.

In other words, of the total 1200 meters, less than half—around 500—are straight.

"Oh, look at that! Number 11, Taiki Shuttle, is breaking away from the pack and closing in on Number 3, Bridge Comp! She’s not letting that outside post slow her down one bit!"
"But Bridge Comp isn’t backing down! She’s accelerating, trying to widen the gap!"

Nakayama’s average time for the 1200-meter turf is around 1:08. Bridge Comp’s first three furlongs—600 meters—come in at 33.8 seconds. That’s blisteringly fast. If I remember right, the record belongs to Sakura Bakushin O at 1:07.1.

If Comp keeps this pace, she might just break that record.

But short-distance races tend to favor front-runners. With so many girls built for early speed, the pace naturally skews toward a forward-heavy race.

"They’re coming out of the final turn! All the horse girls are charging into the stretch! The Nakayama straight is short—can the ones behind catch up in time!?"

"Out in front, it’s Number 3, Bridge Comp, battling Number 11, Taiki Shuttle—and Number 1, Fierce Kick, joining in! Oh—Fierce Kick’s falling behind!"

The pace had been so fierce that the runners’ strides were starting to falter in the final stretch.

Both Bridge Comp and Taiki Shuttle had exhaustion written all over their faces. Yet neither yielded, each desperately pushing for the finish line.

"Can Taiki Shuttle catch her!? Can Bridge Comp hold her off!? Taiki Shuttle or Bridge Comp—who’s it going to be!?"

In the final few meters, Taiki Shuttle’s footing slipped—just slightly, but enough to throw off her balance.

The two surged toward the finish line, neck and neck, practically tangled together as they crossed it.

Which one was it? Did Taiki Shuttle manage to edge ahead at the end—or did Comp hold on by the slimmest margin?

"Oh wow, who took it!?"

"This one’s… close."

The scoreboard flashed: PHOTO.

A photo finish. When the difference is too small to see by eye, the camera decides the victor.

That’s how tight this race was.

Even the audience began to murmur—photo finishes weren’t something you saw every day.

"Hey, Trainer, who do you think won?"

"…Bridge Comp, I’d say. Her posture at the finish looked slightly more favorable."

A minute later, the board lit up with numbers.

First place: Number 3.

"The results are in! First place goes to Number 3, Bridge Comp! Second, Number 11, Taiki Shuttle!"

"She did it! Trainer, Comp did it!"

Down past the finish line, I saw Comp crying—big, overflowing tears.

Her first-ever G1 victory. I couldn’t imagine the joy she must be feeling. Taiki Shuttle walked up to her and pulled her into a powerful hug.

Uh… is that okay? Comp’s not getting crushed, right?

"A time of 1:08.0. With that mid-race pace, it’s no wonder everyone slowed at the end—but to hold the lead through all that? She’s got guts."

"Yeah, she looks all calm, but Comp’s actually a total hothead."

Then came the G1 race’s winning live. Bridge Comp sang and danced on stage.

Under a sea of glowing yellow lights, her voice rang out bright and clear. There was no doubt—she was the victor of the day.

"I’m so happy for you, Comp… really, I am."

Bridge Comp. In the game, she’s just one of the background horse girls—far from a powerhouse. Her stats are average across the board, and more often than not, she fades before the finish.

But in this world, she seized victory.

Through relentless training and an unbreakable will, she shattered her limits and shone on the grandest stage—a G1.

Sure, maybe Taiki Shuttle’s stumble gave her an edge. You could call it luck.

But luck alone doesn’t win a G1. And it certainly can’t beat Taiki Shuttle.

"Ugh… uuuu…"

There are no absolutes in racing. Even the so-called Emperor, Symboli Rudolf, experienced defeat three times. And the Supercar, Maruzensky, often missed victory in the Dream Trophy series.

Bridge Comp was living proof of that truth.

"I know how hard you worked… Comp, I’m so glad you won…"

"Ah, your clothes are getting messy. Here, wipe your face."

I was a total mess—crying, wiping my face, smearing it again.

But… what else could I do? I knew how fiercely Comp had pushed herself through training that would break most people.

"Sob… feee… I feel weird from crying so much…"

By the time the live performance ended, my tears had finally stopped.

There was no way I could go back to the academy like this—it’d cause all sorts of weird misunderstandings.

The trainer walked me back to my room, and I dove straight into bed. Otherwise, I felt like I might unconsciously bolt out the door again.

"I’m home! Your majesty has returned!"

"Comp!"

The door swung open with force, and Bridge Comp stepped inside.

"Congratulations, Comp! I’m really happy for you…"

"Ah, Rue, you’re not supposed to be crying. You were crying plenty during the live, remember?"

"Sniff… You were watching?"

"Of course I was. How could I miss my cute, cute roommate?"

Bridge Comp hugged me and ruffled my hair.

Why does everyone around me love ruffling my hair?

"Rue-chan…"

"Hm? What is it?"

Still holding me, Comp spoke with quiet determination.

"Next, it’s your turn. Show me… you dancing in your racing outfit."

I nodded firmly at her words.

First, the Keio Cup Junior Stakes. Then, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.

Defeat Mihono Bourbon.
The fire of determination burned even stronger in my chest.

"I will… I will…"

And so, the time of the decisive battle drew near.

[Sprinters Stakes] Bridge Comp Triumphs with Relentless Determination

September ○■, 19:24 | Views: 204

Bridge Comp flashes a bright smile for fans during the post-race performance.

At Nakayama Racecourse, the 11th race—the Sprinters Stakes—saw Bridge Comp surge to victory, capturing her first-ever GⅠ title. In a thrilling finish, she held off Taiki Shuttle to cross the line by the slimmest of margins.

After the race, Bridge Comp commented,

“Winning against Taiki Shuttle on a short-distance stage has really boosted my confidence. I want to keep pushing forward along this path.”

Her next race has yet to be decided, but her team has indicated they are considering several options, including mile-distance events such as the Mile Championship, as they map out her upcoming schedule.